Weekly Work & Earnings Update

This week, I cashed out earnings from two research platforms: $305.73 from Prolific and $12.76 from Cloud Connect. These platforms continue to be an important part of my freelance income, even as opportunities from my AI-rating work have become less consistent than they were in the past.

I am also still waiting on a $100 Walmart gift card from Sago ( https://www.focusgroup.com/) for work I completed in October. Their site states that payouts can take 4–6 weeks during busy periods. I cashed out on October 28, so it has now been a little over six weeks, and I am continuing to wait for the gift card to arrive.

Alongside my freelance work, I spent time last week strengthening the foundation of our print-on-demand businesses. I continued building out the social media presence for Grace and Light and We Love Dragons, setting up and refining Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, and Pinterest accounts for each store. I also did additional cleanup across all three stores, tightening things up behind the scenes and adding a couple of new products for sale.

Learning & Skill Building

Last week, I took three Pinterest-sponsored classes focused primarily on trends Pinterest is seeing as they look ahead to 2026.

One particularly useful takeaway was learning that Instagram accounts can be auto-linked to Pinterest, allowing new Instagram posts to be pulled into the corresponding Pinterest account automatically. That said, automation is not a full solution. Pinterest imports the image and description only—titles, tags, and alt text still require manual editing.

I also learned that Canva Pro includes access to multiple certificate courses, which I plan to work through as part of a broader learning plan. Beginning in January, my goal is to average roughly one course per week. Since Jen and Elke Clarke’s Design Divas program meets twice a month, that will cover two weeks of training. During the other two weeks, I plan to use Canva certificate courses when no other options are available, while continuing to watch for additional short courses from Pinterest, Jen and Elke Clarke, and other affordable opportunities that fit our budget and help strengthen both my design and marketing skills for our Zazzle stores.

This continued education is a deliberate shift. As AI-rating opportunities decline, improving my design, branding, and platform skills is no longer optional—it’s necessary if our stores are going to move from supplemental income toward something more stable and eventually replace our freelance work altogether.

Ongoing Questions

I’m still thinking carefully about what to do with our YouTube channel. Because I have very few teeth due to my Dentinogenesis Imperfecta, I don’t speak clearly enough to be understood well on video, and Jamey doesn’t want to be the voice of the channel. We’re also uncomfortable relying on AI-generated voices, especially given the growing backlash around AI and job displacement. For now, this remains an open question.

Our highlighted product for this week is our
Vintage Floral Chateaucore Couple Illustration Throw Pillow:

This soft chateaucore design blends muted florals with a delicate 18th-century–style couple framed beneath an airy botanical arch. The palette of warm neutrals and gentle pastels creates a romantic, graceful look that feels both vintage and timeless. Inspired by old-world illustration and modern cottage-style decor, it brings a sense of calm elegance to any space. A lovely choice for those who enjoy historical aesthetics, gentle colors, and quietly refined artwork.

We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.
- Oprah Winfrey